Fruit-picker.



P. NELSON.

FRUIT PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1910.

1 003 492" Patented Sept. 19,1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PEAR NELSON, 0F I-IOOPESTON, ILLINOIS.

FBUIT-PICKER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PEAR NELSON, a citizen of Sweden, residing at Hoopeston, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovements in Fruit-Pickers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fruit pickers'of the class in which a fabric conveyer or conductor is associated with the picking mechanism, and has for one of the objects to simplify and improve the construction and to increase the efficiency and utility of the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device whereby the action of a spring is utilized to accomplish the severing action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fruit picker in which the cutting jaws are maintained normally and yieldably in closed relation and in which provision is made for separating the jaws against the resistance of the yieldable means so that when the aws are released the severing action is accomplished wholly by the operation of the yieldable means.

with this and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of the parts as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims; and, in the drawings is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a side elevation with the parts closed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the parts open. Fig. 3 is a plan looking in the direction of the arrow with the supporting member in section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referi ed to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawing by the same reference characters.

The improved device comprises a ring 10 of metal having a tubular fabric conductor 11 for the fruit depending therefrom, the conductor being of a length suflicient to convey the fruit to a suitable basket or other receptacle. An arm 13 is located above the ring 10 and is hinged thereto at 12. A bowllike structure 14 is rigidly coupled to the arm 13 by a screw or other fastening device Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 1, 1910.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

Serial No. 590,197.

15. The edge of the bowl-member 14 conforms to the ring 10, so that the two parts closely engage when the ring is disposed in elevated position, that is when swung upwardly upon the hinge 12.

Extending from the member 18 is a supporting rod 16, which is curved at its upper portion, as shown at 17, with the lower portion directed downwardly in a vertical position, and provided with a pole or handle 29 of any required length as shown. Extending from the ring 10 is a lug 18, and extending inwardly from the handle member 16 is another lug 19. A rod 20 is pivoted to the lug l8 and extends through the lug 19, and surrounding the rod 20 between the lugs 18 and 19 is a spring 21, the spring thus operating to maintain the ring 10 yieldably in engagement with the bowl-member 14:. A pull cord 22 is connected at 23 to the ring 10, preferably at a point opposite to the hinge 12, and extends through guide rings 24 upon the conductor member 11 and terminates in a pull ring 25. The handle 29 will be of sufficient length to enable the operator to reach the fruit upon the tree, and when the device is to be employed the cord 22 is pulled to move the ring .10 downwardly, or separate it from the bowl let. The bowl is then disposed over the fruit indicated at 26, and the ring 10 disposed beneath the fruit, the cord 22 being then released the reaction of the spring 21 will close the ring 10 against the bowl 14 and hold the fruit firmly in position. This movement will result in severing the stem when the fruit will drop into the basket to the conductor 11. If the stem is not severed by the action of the spring, it may re: quire a slight pull upon the part of the operator to complete the severing action. By this arrangement it will be noted that the severing action is accomplished wholly by the force of the spring, and does not require the exercise of any force by the operator except to pull the annular member 10 away from its seat against the bowl let. By this means the severing action is accomplished very quickly and never results in the mutilation of the stems, which is an important consideration when picking delicate fruits, as the preservation of the stem is an important item.

It will thus be obvious that a simply constructed fruit picking device is produced which may be inexpensively manufactured and employed for gathering fruit of different kinds without injury to the fruit.

The members 101t may be of any required size to adapt the device to fruit of various kinds.

The member 13 together with the portions l617 will preferably be of metal, while the handle portion 29 may be of wood and coupled in any suitable manner at 28 to the upper metal portion.

The joint 28 may be detachable so that the metal portion of the handle together with the fabric conductor 11 and its pull cord may be folded in small space for trans portation or storage.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is A. fruit picker comprising an upper member, a bowl member connected to the upper member, an annular lower member pivoted to the upper member and normally in engagement with the margin of said bowl member, a fabric conductor depending from the annular member, a lug extending from the annular member, another lug extending from the upper member, a rod connected to the lug of the annular member and movable through the lug of the upper member, a spring bearing between said lugs and operating to maintain said upper member and annular member normally in closed relation, and means for moving said annular member against the resistance of said spring.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature i in presence of two witnesses.

PEAR NELSON. [L. s.] Witnesses:

P. N. SwANsoN,

JOHN SwANsoN.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

